Global Warming

GLOBAL WARMING

        Global warming is an issue which is constantly getting the consideration of all the nations around the globe.  It is not an issue that can be blamed on one nation, but instead it is a crisis which needs urgent attention. There have been summits and meetings regarding this issue around the world with an objective to make a universal agreement of the world about dealing with the issue of climate change. However, global warming itself represents only one facet of climate change. Global warming is a rise in global average temperature near Earth's surface mostly caused due to increase in concentrations of greenhouse gases; such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone, in the atmosphere (NASA, 2008, para 2). But, global warming can be better explained as an imbalance in the climate across the planet earth, such as increased probability of heavy rain, hail, and high winds which cause floods or storms bringing about immense destruction and influence human lives. Global warming is a debatable issue over what is actually leading to global warming, with people divided into two groups; one which believe that human beings are the main cause of global warming and the others believe that it is a part of normal cycles in the Earth’s climate. Whatever the reason may be, the major concern is: The planet Earth is warming, to cause an increase in frequency and occurrence of stronger hurricanes around the world.

Studies have proved that centuries back the earth's temperature was much colder than now. Scientific studies show that temperatures have been rising since the end of 19th century. It was first discovered in the year 1896 that global warming was happening (Mandel, 2015, para 6). Global temperature began rising since 1880 at a rate of 0.75° C, with the year 2014 recorded as the warmest on record (NASA, 2015, Global Temperature). It may look like this temperature change is small and will not have any major impact. The effects are unevenly distributed around the world, due to which land areas are believed to be heated at a faster pace as compared to the sea and the areas at higher altitudes. The rising average temperatures have far-reaching effects on the Earth's climate patterns and on all living things. The issue of rising temperature by 2°C remained the main point of discussion during COP21 summit recently held in Paris. It is predicted that a further increase in temperature by 2°C, will have more intense effects in form of extended droughts and powerful storms (Morales, 2015, para 3). It will create very hard situations on Earth making it even harder for human beings to sustain life (Brumfield, 2015, para 3). Current figures and trends by NASA have verified a continuous rise in sea levels at a rate of 3.24 mm per year owing to global warming. Also, data shows a decreasing land ice sheets in both Antarctica and Greenland. Artic sea ice has reached its minimum since the year 1979 (NASA, 2015, Artic Ice Minimum). All these appear to be straightforwardly identified with a worldwide temperature change and its effect on the planet. According to third assessment report by IPCC (2007), the worldwide temperatures may further rise by 1.4 to 5.8 degree Celsius before the end of the 21st century. This will make the world far different from what it is no.